Welcome to the 400th episode of Uncapped! To mark the occasion, we’re celebrating an even bigger milestone in the local community: 30 years of Brewer's Alley. Host Chris Sands sits down with Brewer's Alley founder Phil Bowers and current co-owner Greg Brown to look back at the origins of Frederick's oldest and largest brewpub. Phil shares what it was like leaving a stable software engineering job in the 1990s to take a leap of faith into a non-existent East Coast craft beer scene, and Greg breaks down the intense daily differences between running a high-volume scratch kitchen and managing a br
In this episode of the UnCapped Podcast, the mic is set up at Saints Row Brewing in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to cover a major changing of the guard. Founder Tony Prabula discusses his decision to step away from the business he built over the last nine years to focus on his growing family. Rather than letting the beloved local staple close its doors, three dedicated staff members—Steve Parrish, Jim Martin, and Barry Culleen—banded together in a "mad scramble" to purchase the brewery. The new ownership trio breaks down their division of labor, their commitment to the existing community, and their
It’s one thing to run a successful craft brewery. It’s an entirely different beast to open a restaurant. For Episode 398 of UnCapped, I headed out to Westminster to sit down with Brewery Fire founder and co-owner Jesse Johnson. It’s been about two years since Jesse was last on the show, and his team just crossed a massive milestone: opening the doors to the brand-new Brewery Fire Taphouse. The transition hasn't been without its growing pains. Jesse gets incredibly candid about the chaos of their opening weekend, the shock of dealing with brutal Google reviews, and the eye-opening realization t
In Episode 397 of the Uncapped Podcast, we sit down with Steve Chu, the energetic co-founder of Baltimore's beloved Asian-Ethiopian fusion restaurant, Ekiben. The episode delves deeply into the grit, humor, and relentless tenacity required to climb from a broken-down food cart to running a highly anticipated multi-location restaurant group. Steve shares stories from his childhood working in his family's restaurants after they immigrated from Taiwan, reflecting on the cultural contrasts in customer service styles between Eastern efficiency and Western attentiveness. He outlines his entry into t
In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, host Chris Sands hits the road to Westminster, Maryland, for an on-site interview at Bear Branch Malt. Joined by honorary co-host Keith Marcoux, Chris sits down with proprietor Brad Humbert to explore his fascinating journey from engineering and hop farming to bringing a 4-ton malting operation to his family's historic farm. The group dives deep into the science and craft of malting, discussing the intricacies of working with local grain varieties like Violetta two-row barley and Danko rye. Brad shares his insights on supplying roughly 50 local brewerie
In Episode 395, host Chris Sands sits down with Garrett Chambers (Co-owner) and Sam Waller (GM of the Columbia location) at the Cushwa Rad Pies Taproom in Columbia, MD. They discuss Cushwa Brewing's upcoming 9th Anniversary celebration, set for February 6th and 7th. The conversation highlights a massive lineup of releases, including a unique whiskey called "Transmuted" (a distilled barleywine collaboration with McClintock Distilling) and a controversial but delicious "Black West Coast Pils". They also chat about the "hidden gem" status of the Columbia location's whiskey program and share laugh
I’m back at Olde Mother Brewing with founder Keith Marcoux to celebrate their 10th anniversary, even if we are technically a couple of months late. Keith was my very first guest on this podcast, and he’s been on pretty much every year since, so it’s only right that I share some big news with him. In this episode, I officially announce that Uncapped will end next year; I’ve decided to stop at the 10-year mark this coming October. But don't worry, we didn't get too sappy. We spent plenty of time covering: The "Dummy Tax": The expensive lessons learned over a decade of entrepreneurship. New Ventu
For Episode 393 I caught up with Keith Kohr at Waredaca Brewing Company in Laytonsville, MD as they celebrate their incredible 10th Anniversary! The farm is ready for winter with their awesome new, heated, all-weather, reservable pavilion (it holds up to 100!). The main event is the Waredecade 10th Anniversary Party this Saturday, December 6th! Tickets ($65) include three beers, catered food, a custom glass, and a t-shirt. They are dropping some massive beers: • Waredecade (9% Triple IPA, their biggest hopped beer ever). • Bonanza (14% Sagamore rye whiskey barrel-aged stout with cinnamon and a
Why do the best grapes come from the most difficult soil? In this episode, we explore the concept of "struggle" with Drew Baker, co-founder of Burnt Hill Farm. Drew explains why he specifically chose the rocky terrain of Clarksburg, Maryland, to launch his exclusive, high-end wine label, supported by the infrastructure of his family’s Old Westminster Winery. But the struggle isn't limited to the vines. Drew shares his incredible story of survival against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). After facing a grim prognosis and undergoing experimental treatments, including two bone marrow transplants don
Kill the Lights 2025 is only two weeks away. Here is episode two of stupid questions from Kill the Lights 2024. Here is who participated in this round. Mike Pallen - Mikerphone Brewing Jason Brewer - Wandering Monster Brewing Dave Martin - Orchestrated Minds Brewing Skip Schwartz - Weldwerks Brewing Co Mike Gambino - Vitamin Sea Brewing Doug Meyer - Tactical Brewing Chris Jaccobs - Beer Zombies Corey Campbel - RAR Josh Bauerlein - Mortalis Brewing Co Alberto Cespedes - Spanish Maria Brewery
In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, I sat down with Hugh and Caroline Sisson of Heavy Seas Beer to celebrate a their 30 years in craft beer. We dug into how they’re marking the occasion with special releases, collaborations, and a big anniversary party this December. We also talked about the state of today’s beer industry, including shifting drinking habits, rising costs, and why being a legacy brand gives Heavy Seas an edge. Hugh shared insights from three decades in beer, including why adaptability is everything, while Caroline gave a peek behind the scenes at anniversary highlights lik
As we approach Xul Beer Company's Kill the Lights beer festival let's listen to another episode of stupid questions recorded at last years festival. Kill the Lights is one of the best festivals out there. Get your tickets here: https://xulbeer.com/event/kill-the-lights-2025-2025-10-25/ This episode features the following people: Brad West - Xul Beer Company Seth Thacker - Xul Beer Company Frank Zagami - Deciduous Brewing Company Zac Porter - Schilling Beer Company Ken Correll - Human Robot Garret Chambers - Cushwa Brewing Company Whitney Myhra - Drekker Brewing Company Dan O'Hara - Foam Brewer
In this episode I interviewed Adam Frey, owner of Frey's, a farm brewery and winery and part of a larger 2500 acre farm. Adam discusses several significant changes and initiatives at the farm, including a 33-acre wetlands and stream restoration project designed to mitigate flood damage, reduce erosion, and promote wildlife diversity. He also highlights their unique beginner's off-road course, which utilizes portions of the farm for recreational driving experiences. Additionally, Frey touches upon the challenges of modern farming, the shift in their business model from solely brewing to includi
In this episode, I sit down with Josh Cross, the beverage director at Wye Oak Tavern, to dive into the martini renaissance and all things mixology. We talk about how martinis have evolved over time, from their sweeter beginnings to the bone-dry versions people love today, and how something as simple as glassware can impact both presentation and function. Josh walks me through his creative process for developing new cocktails, where he pulls inspiration from big ideas, specific spirits, and the occasional trend. We also get into the resurgence of espresso and dirty martinis, the age-old debate
On this episode I had the chance to sit down with Braden Bumpers from McClintock Distilling, Eli Breitburg-Smith from Baltimore Spirits Company, and Ryan Norwood from Sagamore Spirits. We talked all about Rye Curious—a special collaborative Maryland rye whiskey blend created by these three distilleries. We got into the details of the project, including the guidelines that required the whiskey to be at least three years old and distilled right here in Maryland. These three were ready to roll this year, but we’re all hopeful more distilleries will join in future editions. We also explored each o
In this episode of the Uncapped podcast, I have the pleasure of chatting with Brian and Ashley Allen, the passionate founders of True Standard Distilling. We talked about the upcoming grand opening that takes place on May 29th. They share the story behind their distillery’s name, highlighting the deep meaning of "distilling" as opposed to "distillery" and the hurdles they've faced in trademarking their brand. We dive into their craft of rum-making, where their commitment to quality is front and center: staying true to the standard of aged, additive-free rum. They introduce their diverse lineup
In this episode of the Uncapped podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with John Zerivitz of Cultivate and Craft, representing the Brewers Association of Maryland, and Abby Casarella, the event manager for the Brewers Association of Maryland Brewers Association of Maryland. We dive into everything you need to know about the upcoming Maryland Craft Beer Festival—set in the heart of downtown Frederick. From the date and time to exciting new features like the Super VIP experience (think early access, private lounges, and exclusive presentations), we cover it all. We also get into the festival’s
In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, we visited Fallen Oak Distilling, located right next to Lone Oak Brewery. We sat down with the four co-owners, Chris, Charlie, Ralph, and Ryan, to talk about how both establishments got started and evolved over time. They share the story of the fallen oak tree that not only inspired the distillery's name but also provided wood for its construction. We dive into their unique farm-to-bottle approach, the wide variety of spirits and beers they offer, the mix of family-friendly and adult-focused spaces, and the backgrounds that each owner brings to the tabl
In this episode of the Uncapped Podcast, we visited Bier Bath in Sykesville, Maryland, interviewing co-founders Greg and Hector. The idea for Bier Bath came from Hector's visit to a beer spa in Iceland. He and Greg, who initially considered a brewery, partnered to bring the concept to the US. The "beer bath" uses beer ingredients (hops and barley), minerals, and Epsom salt in water, not actual beer, yeast, or alcohol. Benefits include vitamin B and antioxidants good for the skin. The experience involves a soak, infrared sauna, and shower. Bier Bath features a separate spa and a large taproom w
Melissa Aellen, director of winery operations at Simple Theory Wine Company, joined us in this episode to discuss her new venture. As a third-generation winemaker from the family behind Ligonore Winecellers, Aellen explained that Simple Theory is a modern expression of Maryland winemaking, focusing on dry wines made possible by climate change and sustainable practices. The new downtown Frederick tasting room aims to showcase the quality of Maryland wines and make them more accessible to a broader audience, contrasting with Ligonore's established sweeter offerings driven by historical local dem
This episode features an interview with Lucy Devlin, Naked Wines' vice president of wine. Naked Wines operates as a marketplace connecting independent winemakers directly to consumers, bypassing traditional distribution systems. We discuss the company's business model, challenges in navigating US alcohol regulations across different states, and the current state of the wine industry, including the rise of non-alcoholic options. Finally, we touch upon the winemakers' passion and Naked Wine's unique customer engagement model. If you love rye whiskey you are going to want to check out Rye Revival
Episode 379 features Steve McIntyre, the founder and owner of RAK Brewing Company, and Branden Roth, the head brewer, to discuss their journey in the craft beer industry and the first year at RAK. We discussed the unique challenges and opportunities of opening a brewery in a competitive market and the importance of adapting to evolving consumer preferences. Finally we talked about the upcoming expansion set to open in February and their 1 year anniversary party taking place on December 14th.
This week's episode is with Jessee Johnson from Brewery Fire, we talked about all of the exciting changes happening at the brewery. It's been a few years since we last chatted, and a lot has happened. Dave, the previous partner, has moved on, and Jesse brought on a new partner, Deep, who has a strong business background. They're also in the process of rebranding with a new logo designed by a friend of Jesse’s, and they’re looking at new properties to expand. We talked about a bunch of Brewery Fire’s beers, including their core beers, the new Mexican hot chocolate stout aged in single malt whis
Episode 377 features Paul Hester and AJ Johnston of First State Brewing Company in Middletown, Delaware. The conversation centers around the brewery's founding and growth, including their experience navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision to start distributing earlier than anticipated. The discussion also touches on the importance of the brewery's food program in creating a positive customer experience. They discuss their commitment to quality, experimentation with unique beers, and their plans for a second location that will focus on mixed fermentation and barrel-aged beers. The int
This week we talked to Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs about his whiskey brand Knobel Spirits. Huge thank you to Frederick Wine House for setting this up!
